Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3224 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSof Baltimore and Mrs. A. Pitt Turner of Salisbury. Doctor and Mrs. Claxtonhave had three children: Edward Burton, the youngest, died in,infancy.Charlotte Iris was born at Kite, Georgia, August 4, 1908, and Helen Isabellewas born at Kite March 7, 1910. Mrs. Claxton is active in church and clubcircles at Dublin.SAMUEL HALE SIBLEY. For almost a century the name Sibley has hadnumerous distinguished associations in Georgia, and particularly at Augusta,from which city the Sibleys directed their enterprise as merchants, manufacturers, bankers, and in the upbuilding and betterment of many of the mostimportant resources and affairs of the state at large. For generations beforethe first Sibley came to Georgia the family were prominent in New England,where it was -established within a few years after the first settlement onPlymouth Rock.Of the great Georgians of the name the first and most conspicuous was thelate Josiah Sibley, who was born April 1, 1808, at Uxbridge, Massachusetts,and died at Augusta, Georgia, December 7, 1888. He was seventh in the lineof descent from John Sibley. who came over from England in the "Winthropfleet in 1629 and settled at the Town of Salem, Massachusetts'. He died atManchester in 1661. He took the freeman's oath May 6, 1635, had previouslyjoined the church at Charlestown, and served as a selectman of the Town ofSalem and went to the General Court at Boston. His wife's name was Rachel..They had nine children, five daughters and four sons. The line of descentwas continued through his son Joseph, who was born at Salem in 1655. Hiswife's name was Susanna Follet, and one of their children was named John,born at Salem, September 18, 1677. He married, April 20, 1694, ZeruiahGould. They had five children John, Ebenezer, Stephen, Bethial andTimothy. The fourth generation was represented by John Sibley, who wasborn at Salem, November 13, 1714, and married Abigail Towne. Theirchildren were named Stephen, Hannah, Lydia, Peter and Mary.Stephen Sibley, in the fifth generation, was born at Sutton, Massachusetts,July 12, 1741, and died August 25, 1828, in Grafton, Massachusetts'. About1792 he went to Rutland and bought the farm owned by Gen. Rufus Putnam.He was a Revolutionary soldier, and the official records state that he was aprivate in Capt. March Chase's company, Col. Jonathan Holman's regiment,marched'September 26, 1777, was in service to October 26, 1777, and wentwith his company from Sutton to Saratoga to reinforce the northern armyduring the Burgoyne campaign of 1777. Stephen Sibley married ThankfulSibley, and their children were named Lydia, Joel and Hannah.Joel Sibley was born at Grafton, Massachusetts, April 25, 1766, and diedthere April 10, 1839. He married Lois Wood, who was born June 24, 1767,daughter of Ezekiel Wood, also a Revolutionary soldier, and she died November 21, 1832. Their children were named Amory, Royal, Elmira, Abigail andNancy (twins), Mary L., Martha, Josiah and George.One of these last named children was Josiah Sibley, who played so long andprominent a part in Georgia business affairs. His early childhood was spentin the home of his parents at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and while there heattended a district .school. In 1821, at the age of thirteen, he came south tojoin his brothers Amory and Royal, who had previously located at Augusta.He found employment as clerk in his brother's store, his wages being boardand clothes, and all his extra earnings coming from the sale of fishing tackleand pocket knives. He was also permitted to deal for his own profit inoranges. That was the humble beginning to the career of one of Georgia'sgreatest merchants. - Augusta in 1821 had only 6,000 inhabitants, but was animportant center of trade both up and down the coast and to all the settlements in the sparsely settled district to the rear. After the death of his brotherRoyal in 1822, Josiah continued with his brother Amory until 1828, and was